Scoop du Jour: Salt & Straw Finally Opens Two Seattle Shops

The long-anticipated wait is finally over. Salt & Straw has opened its doors in Ballard and is ready to serve you their inventive, melt-in-your-mouth artisanal ice cream. If you’re thinking this is just another run-of-the-mill ice cream shop…think again. The family-owned business, which has gained a cult-like following since its first opening in 2011, is known for conjuring up wildly imaginative city-specific flavors made with ingredients sourced from local businesses. If you’re ready to take your taste buds to a whole new level, read on for the scoop on this delicious addition to the Emerald City’s burgeoning dessert empire.

You Scream, I Scream, We All Scream for This Ice Cream!
Seven years ago, owners Kim and Tyler Malek (they’re cousins) grew their pushcart business into their first scoop shop in Portland’s Arts District. Serving handmade, small-batch ice cream, the shop quickly attracted long lines and the duo gained a cult-like following for their high-quality, artisanal ice cream flavors. After expanding to three stores and a soft serve bar in the Portland area, the cousins headed south (adding locations in Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego) and have now returned to Seattle (prior to moving to Portland Kate lived in Ballard and Tyler in Snohomish), to open their first (and biggest shop) in Ballard and a second shop on Capitol Hill.

Giving Back
As if you needed another reason to order a double scoop, Salt & Straw also believes in giving back to the community. They partner annually with local schools and non-profit organizations that support equality and childhood food security and also treat their employees to a full range of benefits including health insurance, paid time off and professional training. Psst! On Feb. 9 from 6 p.m.-8 p.m., the Ballard shop will hold a pop-up shop outside its doors with $1 scoops. All proceeds from the two-hour event will benefit Farestart, the nonprofit that offers food service job training to people struggling with poverty, addiction, homelessness or a criminal record.

Doorstep Delivery
If you don’t want to make the trek to Ballard or Capitol Hill, Salt & Straw’s ice cream is now available for delivery through Postmates. Simply place your order online or through the app and you can have pints of Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons or Chocolate Gooey Brownie delivered to your doorstep in minutes.

Good to Know
Salt and Straw is currently working on plans for a grab-and-go freezer at Sea-Tac Airport, in the new Marche Food Hall. The ice cream icon will join other spin-offs of popular Seattle eateries like Li’l Woody’s, Good Bar, Macrina Bakery and Cafe Ladro, which means you’ll probably want to add some extra time to your next airport visit.

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Ice cream is available in scoops served in cups, waffle cones and sundaes, as well as by the pint. Single scoops are $4.95; double scoops are $6.95; kids’ scoops (the size of a golf ball) are $3.95; split scoops (a single scoop split between flavors) are an additional $.50; tasting flights (which include four kids’ scoops) are $11.45; and pints are $10.50.

Salt & Straw sells a few sweets from Seattle producers, as well take-home pints and merchandise. And if you’re wondering if they make vegan ice cream, they do and it’s delish!